MacLaaran Village

[TimTheEnchanter]

It had been 10 days since I left cea in Ireland... 10 of the longest days in my memory.  I was sitting by the fire in the Great Hall in MacLaaran with friends when the door opened.  A cloaked figure, obviously a woman entered the hall.  She drew back the hood of her cloak as she crossed the hall, and I looked up... It was my ceanna.

The shock of it kept me from uttering a word.  When my voice finally found me, she was in my arms hugging me.  The questions flowed without a chance for her to even answer. Why was she here?  Why had she not said that she had left Ireland?  Who was looking after Mum? Where was Ayslin?  What had happened?

She told me then while pressing her tiny form to mine, that Mum had passed.  She had gone to bed as usual, but the next morning... well, she was gone.  It was unexpected.  It took them all by surprise.  The combination of the news of my Mum's passing and having cea back with me at MacLaaran was too much, too soon.  I had to sit down.  My Mum gone.  The only respite being that I had seen her before she left.  As cea told the story of her return to MacLaaran, not being able to sleep, wanting to tell me using the ring, but not wanting me to know without her being there to hold me, I knew ... all over again... how much I loved her.  She fell asleep on my lap, her head against my chest, as those around us conversed.  Listening to the conversations around me... with my cea there... I knew that now, this was truly my only home.

[Serenitee]

~waking with a start to a gently, thundering morning...her right hand fluttering to her chest for a moment, feeling the quick pace of her heart.  Her lips slowly pulling into a leisurely smile as she sits up in her bed, her left hand holding the cool sheet close to her skin as she twists and easily stretches....lifting her right hand toward the ceiling to assist in her stretch.  Letting her left hand slowly follow...the back of it brushing along the underside of her chin then up her cheek....turning her head left and closing her eyes as she rubs her cheek gently against her hand before letting it slip further up then along the back of her head...lacing her fingers through her hair, giving a light tug, pulling her head back to ease the tension in her neck..softly sighing and shivering as the sheet slides down a bit, resting along tips of her breasts....gasping as goosebumps move along her skin....chuckling softly as she swings her legs about, leans back a bit to grasp the covers and wrap them about her form as she stands and pads into the livingroom~

~stepping across the cool, damp floor to the window...a smile touching her lips as she watches the raindrops strike and dance across the outside ledge.  Tightening her hold on the sheet as she boosts her hip to the window seat, leaning back to the frame. Running her fingertips through her sleep roughened curls, tilting her head to the side a bit to let them freely fall over her bare shoulder....her lips can't help but remain firmly in a warm smile as she replays the music in her mind...wishing Prae were here to share...imagining his gentle touch, the warmth of his breath upon her skin....arching her back with a gasp at the strong emotion overcoming her senses...her body tensing in response...tugging her bottom lip between her teeth lightly, turning her cheek toward the cool window...the dampness lending relief to her warmed cheek, though offering none to other aches as she curls her hands into the sheet wrapped about her~

~lifting her feet to the window seat....sliding her legs up then wrapping her arms about her knees, slipping a hand atop them to rest her chin upon as she decides to sit and watch the rain for a while longer.....closing her eyes, drawing in a long breath then slowly letting it out...touching the tip of her tongue to her lips, lingering for a moment...lending her mind to misty morning daydreaming for a while~

[Aurora]

~standing near the window of Her childhood chambers, She watches the summer rain fall gently outside, then turning as there is a knock at the door and Her Brother enters.. She smiles and moves across the room, following Him out and down the corridor to the throne room where Her Father sits, listening to the villagers.. She feels a bit of unease being there, as She renounced Her position in this Kingdom, technically... ahh well.. She vaugely hears the request of the villager as She follows Arican through to the study where a messenger awaits.  She puts the parchment in his hand.. a letter for both Tris and Kyle...~

"My Friends, this is just a brief note to You both, in wondering if there have been any sightings of My Brother, Thomas, since I've been away. I am well, but unfortunatly am not able to return to MacLaaran just yet. Please give My love to E/everyone in the Castle. You may send any answering note with this boy, he is trustworthy. Kyle, if You care to send the orphange plans, please do.. I don't want to hold up the building.. Tris.. well.. You know..  Always~  Aurora"

~She watches as Arican hands the boy a pouch of coins and he bows and slips out for the long journey~


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(As Thomas/Terrick)

~She'd been gone a long time, just up and left. I'd watched the Castle and the Manor, traveling back and forth several times between the two places, taking rooms both at the Hammer and the Inn in Fussen, but no sight of Her. It made a Man crazy. But I knew I had to be careful, so careful, not to slip, or I'd be found out, and that would not be good. So far that Guard, He had no clue.. made a Person laugh when You saw Him. Which I did.. often, from a distance... I felt like pressing my luck just a little.. I left a note where the ground breaking had happened on the edge of Mac village.. I knew they were building there for Her... "You can't hide Her forever"  just a lil something to make them think. *low chuckling to Myself*~

[~lava~]

*walking through the village early in the morning on my way to the Coffee Shoppe...stopping for a few moments to look at where the ground has been broken in early preperations for the new orphanage...thinking fondly of Aurora and hoping She is well and will return soon to watch as her vision becomes reality*

((we miss ya! ))

[Seamus]

Awakes early this mornin' lookin' at the sunlight as it streams through the window o' this nicely furnished "cell"... Thinkin' that he's stayed in one place too long.  Rollin' out o' bed and placin' his feet on the stone floor he stands and stretches before lookin' and finally findin' the small bag he arrived with slung o'er his shoulder these weeks ago now.

Placin' one o' the two shirts that he owned into the bag and pullin' the other on his torso, but neglectin' t' button it.  Slippin' on the leather pants that Soul was so fond o', and then his leather boots. He looks into the small bag with the shoulder strap... one shirt... hmm... what more could he need, but perhaps some travelling food?

Walkin' downstairs to the hall with the bag slung o'er his shoulder, he crosses the quiet hall and enters the scullery where Rita is fixin' breakfast.  She asks him if he'd be wantin' t' eat in the hall, and he tells her, no he'd be goin' outside t' eat his breakfast.  She hands him a scone t' take with him, and when her back is turned, he quickly puts three others in the bag... no tellin' where he'd find lunch today.  Tellin' Rita thank you he turns as the recognition that three more scones were "missin" appears on her face.  She laughs and tells him t' git outa her scullery.

He walks out of the scullery and across the hall once more... noddin' t' seth as he passes through the door and across the gate.  Wonder what's out there crosses his mind as he walks down through the village.  There must be somethin' down this road or they wouldn't have bothered makin' it.  He wonders these things idly as he eats his scone, and leaves MacLaaran village.

[Serenitee]

~chuckling to herself as she watches out the front window of the shoppe, idly fiddling with the dress display in the window.  Peeking around the side of the dress form, gasping and jumping back in surprise as she comes face to face with step one of her evil plan.....snickering to herself as she steps around the dress form and tugs the shoppe door open, allowing her plot to unfold~

~ducking her head out the door, looking side t'side while tugging the man inside, whispering~

"Were ye followed?....~awaiting his reply of nay~.....Are ye sure??....~chuckling and nodding at his final response of nay~

Excellent!....~grinning, motioning for him to follow her into the room in the back.  Sifting through layers of clutter on her desk while the gentleman stands at the ready, awaiting her instructions.  Her hands quickly searching through the mess on her desk...finally reaching the bottom of a pile of parchments.....giggling as she finds what she's looking for and hands it over to the gentleman~

~he takes the parchment, lifts a brow then looks to Seren...looks back down at the parchment, then back to Seren with a perplexed expression~

~rolling her eyes at his look~....I am paying ye well t'provide this service sir. Do so without question or I can certainly find another more than willing to do so.  Do nay ask questions, there is always a method t'my madness...~a wicked grin slipping across her lips a she places a small pouch of coins into his hand~....Do we have an accord?

~a smile crookedly turns the lips of the man as he fondles the pouch of coins and nods slowly~....I'm at ye service M'lady.  I shall do ye bidding...~as he tilts his head, the large plume falling with a flourish~

~grins and clasps her hands together~....Very good!  Now here is what I wish I ye t'do..and how I wish ye t'do it....~lowering her voice as if someone were listening, unable to keep from giggling~.....Doth ye understand?


~a hearty laughs rings out from the man's chest as he just nods his head in response, rolls the parchment then steps back with a bow...turning quickly on his heel before walking out of the backroom then further out the front door of the shoppe~

~laughing to herself at what has just transpired as she waits for a few moments then quickly steps out of the shoppe, walking at a fast pace down the street and almost around the corner. Stopping to look around, just catching the large feathery plume of the stranger as he steps into lava's coffee shoppe.  Clasping a hand over her lips and giggling as she steps further around the corner...making her way to stand close enough to lava's to hear, but not close enough to draw suspicion to herself~


Meanwhile..................

~The colorfully dressed wandering minstrel steps into lava's shoppe.  The absurdly large plume waving as if a flag. He carries his instrument in one hand while sweeping the hat from his head with the other...as he bows dramatically while announcing that he is here to deliver a singing missive for none other than lava. He waits until she's been pointed out to him, then moves to stand close, yet not too close.  He clears his throat, smiles, trying not to chuckle and begins strumming his instrument...the melodic tune whispering out the door and into the streets....meeting Seren's ears causing her to giggle~

M'name is Sir Hank of Locklin.....~he starts out~...an' this is a token of appreciation from a follow MacLaaran resident...who wishes t'remain....anonymous.

~clearing his throat again...his voice then lifting into a musical tune, Seren nearly bursting out in laughter as she listens~

Please help me I'm faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalling in love with you
Close the door to temptaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaation don' let me walk through
Turn away from me daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarling I'm begging you to
Please help me I'm faaaaaaaaaaaaalling in love with you

I belong to anooooooooooooooooooooooooooother whose arms have grown cold
But I promised foreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeever to have and to hold
I can never be freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee dear but when I'm with you
I know that I'm looooooooooooooooosing the will to be true

Please help me I'm faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalling and that would be sin
Close the door to temptaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaation don't let me walk in
For I mustn't want you but daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarling I do
Please help me I'm faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalling in love with you

~the song ends with a flourish, Sir Hank takes a bows and backs out the door and is gone.  Seren watches him leave, giggling thinking this to be perfect retribution to all the contagious yawning and singing....suddenly grumbling realizing that the very same song is now stuck in her head....growling in between giggles as she quickly and innocently makes her way back to the shoppe~

[~lava~]

*jumping as i look up from the counter and realize a strange man with a feather in his hat and holding his “instrument” (that’s what it said!)… is standing before me in my coffee shop.  i start to ask “may I help you” but he is already introducing himself . He pauses to catch a breath before breaking into song…while strumming his “instrument”….and i hear what has to be the most annoying, awful sounding, stick-in-your-head-all-day type of song...

By the time he finally finishes, my patrons are laughing and my head is pounding….he disappears out the door quickly but as i move to the window to see where he goes, i notice a familiar backside walking towards her shoppe, her shoulders shaking with what has to be laughter…

I mumble under my breath, vowing revenge on the clever dressmaker…and growling each time “please help me I’m faaaaaaaaaaaaaaallling” echos inside my head*

[Sir Kyle]

*wondering what all that cat calling sound of a man singing I could barely hear next door in lava's Coffee Shoppe was as I stick my head out the door. I catch a glimpse of what must be a minstrel with a huge dumb plume in his hat hurrying away*

*turning to Davie who thought one of the carriages rolling through the village needed greased, I advise him that it was a minstrel of sorts* Whoever that was, I'll nae be inviting him to sing at the castle.

[Serenitee]

~throwing the door to her cottage open in a huff then slamming it behind her, not allowing the tears to fall...at least not yet. Padding across the room toward the hearth....stopping in the middle of the room as she catches a glance at herself in the mirror over the hearth. What had she been thinking?  Letting her hands slip to her hips over the gauzy excuse for knickers, sliding a fingertip along the fluffy edging before flattening her palms over her tummy....sliding them upward...grazing bare skin before touching the hem of the flimsy wrap. Shifting one shoulder forward, then the other as she tilts her head and watches her reflection...then entire image seeming younger than her actual years.  Her fingertips lightly drift upward over gentle curves and swells...touching her neck, lighting on her cheeks where she presses her palms there to ease the warmth~

~turning from the reflection, wrapping her arms about her shoulders and dropping her head forward....sighing long and soft as she closes her eyes....replaying the night's events...flinching once again at his words, the sting just as sharp. Shivering suddenly, the night chill setting in as she moves to the divan, dragging the well worn throw off it and wrapping the soft blanket around her shoulders. Kneeling down at the hearth, leaning in to stir the flames to life...sitting back to her heels as she becomes lost in the magical dancing flames~

~the warmth of the fire flooding her limbs, making her feel slightly lightheaded and drunk..moving to her feet, the blanket falling...puddling around her feet.  Tilting her head to the side a she closes her eyes and hums softly, the sound more sad than merry....her fingertips sliding underneath the elastic of her top....pushing it down her shoulders slowly..arching her back while dropping her head back...her curls tickling down the length of her back as the sheer fabric falls lower...her hands easing it over her hips...sighing as it falls to the floor.  Next her hands move to her knickers, easing them easily over her hips....the soft scrap slipping to the floor. Clasping her arms about her bared chest, lifting her shoulders upward, shivering a bit more as she bends over, picking up the garments...the gauzy material soft and cool in her fingertips....tugging her bottom lip between her teeth as she tosses the creation into the flames~

~watching for a moment as the fire easily consumes the fabric then gathering the blanket...wrapping it back around her form as she moves to the divan, curling up into the corner, tucking her legs beneath her but slightly to the side, tucking the throw around herself snuggly...folding her hands beneath her dampened cheek and closing her eyes..her mind reeling as to how their next meeting will be after the night's events...murmuring softly as slumber takes hold~

[Aurora]

~She sits in the Palace garden, small writing desk in Her lap... She dips the quill and brings it to the parchment to write~

Dearest Tris, I hope all is well in MacLaaran. I am doing well, despite the length of My absence from there. My Father continues to think of reasons to keep Me here.  I know He is simply trying to protect Me from My brother, but that can't last forever. Tell everyone hello, please... and take care of Yourself.

                                                 Always,
                                                            Aurora

~rolling and sealing the parchment, She then takes out another, writing quickly~

Sir Kyle, I hope the building of the orphanage has not been put on hold. I do apologize for My lengthy absence. Let Me know when it's near completion and I shall send a missive to the girl I spoke with about running the day to day issues of the place.
                                                   
                                                                  Aurora

~with a soft sigh, She lays down the quill and sets aside the small desk.. looking up She sees Her half-Brother approaching.. She manages a smile and rises from Her spot, pressing Her cheek against His, then nodding gently as Arican tells Her Their Father has requested to see Her.. gathering Her things up, tucking the parchments away for Her to find the messenger boy later. ~


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(as Thomas/Terrick)

*I walk around the village near the Castle of MacLaaran. In my time here I'm come to know quite a bit about the people there, not that they know anything about me, which is just as it should be. I see the Guard Captain around. It makes it laugh every time, since I have been lodging in His establishment this whole time and He doesn't even know who I am. I am polite, of course, I know how to be that, still. I don't want to do anything that would arouse suspicion, especially since that sister of mine is still missing. Well, I'm sure the Castle residents know where she is, but I haven't been able to root it out, yet. I manage to inquire with a good many of the messengers that go in and out of the place, but none are ever bearing tidings from her. I just don't understand it. She's obviously a friend here, why wouldn't she write?*


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~Later, She finds Her trusted messenger, handing him the missives for Tris and Kyle.. the boy hides them well, knowing he will be stopped and searched by the strange man in the village, but he always picks up other messages for MacLaaran before arrival so Her letters will not be found. The boy travels to the sea and boards a ship, then makes his way to MacLaaran once his feet find land again... being stopped by the dark, menacing man and throughly searched, but the secret letters not found... he continues to the Castle leaving one parchment on the Captain's chair and one on Sir Kyle's.... he then goes to find something to eat and to await if they will send a return message to Her.

[Sir Kyle]

*after reading the message from Lady Aurora, I managed a little smile and wrote my response*

Dear Aurora,
I was hoping Ye might return before We started erecting the building on the new foundations. Ye new that the area southwest of the village was cleared. We spent a lot of time working on the foundations, making sure all the heavy rocks were properly placed. I'll send Ye a copy of the floor plan to approve with My next message. I'd like Ye to okay this before We initiate the erection

Ye're friend and ally,
Kyle

*finding the messenger where Rita was packing him a lunch before he headed back*

[Sir Tristram]

stand'n on the balcony of the castle, watch'n the sun slowly set, as one of M'guards approach hand'n Me a sealed parchment...tak'n it from him, I break the seal and start to read...then with a small grin, I move back into the Main Hall, and up to M'room where I find a parchment and start to pen a note

Aurora, it has seemed like an eternity since I last saw You, I'm very glad to hear You are doing well, and I'm sure Your father is just look'n after Your best interest, as any father would.  I pray you continue to be well, and that some day You might once again grace the Hall's of the Castle here in MacLaaran, be well and be safe, and know You are missed by all.

Your Captain, Tris

carefully seal'n the parchment, giv'n it to one of M'guards request'n he get it to the lad before he returns.

[WilliamTaillur]

*heading out to the public message board.. chuckling at a stranger with a large plume in his hat.. carrying a Lute.. and seemingly in a hurry.   Doest take Mine parchment and tacks it in a vacant spot on the well used board.. *

Iron Lance for sale.
Other business needs force sale of guid Inn to enthusiastic Lord or Lady.
Contact Lord or Lady Taillur for details.

[Praegorn]

Continued from:  http://www.webmaze.com/forum/index.php?topic=7176.msg69136#msg69136

Praegorn jogged through the village on his way to the Herald, a brief glimpse towards Serenitee's cottage and then his own giving him the slightest pause before he headed in and greeted Caitlin (I really have to remember this poor fellow's name!).  Caitlin, having been up earlier as was the norm for a pressman, he awaited Praegorn's instructions and nodded as the editor of the Herald took notes and tacked them to a template, along with ciphers he had worked on the day before.  Looking it over with some satisfaction, he smiled briefly at his pressman and announced "Well, we've finally got a quality run of the Herald this time.  Just wait until the good folk see it! (this would be a not so subtle hint to look at the new MacLaaran Herald. ~smile~)  Looking around to ensure a last time that everything was in order, Praegorn slapped Caitlin on the back in good cheer and headed out to where his chestnut horse awaited him, a village stable lad holding his reigns while stifiling a yawn.  Reaching into his belt purse for a coin, he pressed it into the lad's palm then secured his travel pack upon the saddle, and lept up on the horse with the experience that a lanceman of Macedonia still commanded when he thought nae to play the buffoon.

Turning the steed around, Praegorn looked his way down the main street and set his horse to a slow trot, the better to avoid a villager in the early morning's pre-dawn light.  Once clearing the village proper, Prae turn his horse south and dug his heels into the horse's side, spuring the hearty steed into a gallop that took him rapidly away from the village.  His mind on the task ahead, Prae patted his side in reassurance and smiled, as the lump of coin protruding from the bag comforted him, and reminded him that he had only completed the first goal........

[Praegorn]

~some leagues to the south, Praegorn pulled up his horse next to a public stable in a small village.  Handing the reins of his lathered steed (don't even go there, you naughty thinkers! ~lol~) to a stable lad, he pulled off his saddle and bags and put it on a dun colored horse tied nearby and with a wave to the stable's proprietor who had been expecting him, Praegorn started his new horse at a gallop and headed south once more, feeling good about his plan to have an exchange of mounts at the ready...~